Coleman: a Site Visit

When a customer reaches out to Coleman Service & Supply, LLC to discuss a Pallet Rack project, the first step is usually a site visit. This is a best-practice to ensure that you are aware of anything that might undermine the best or most efficient rack layout. We look at 3 main things before we’re able to give any Rack pricing. And no, we don’t do ballpark pricing...too many variables.  

The first step is looking at the physical space. Some customers will have a CAD available, however 3D is best to start the process. We look for the basic measurements of the storage space, including the height from the floor to the trusses, the width in both directions, the column spacing in both directions and to the wall. And finally, what (if any) obstructions are present.

Obstructions could include HVAC hanging from the ceiling, electrical along the walls, lighting, and any visible unevenness along the floor. In some cases, and with the customer’s approval, we will drill into the concrete to establish a slab depth. This will come into play later in the process.

The last thing we look for is the receiving area, thinking ahead about how are we going to deliver the Pallet Rack materials. Is it a loading dock only situation? Or is there a ramp?    

The next step is to evaluate the customer product they’re planning to store on the Racks. Like the space, we need the physical dimensions, details about the pallets being used, and how much the pallets weigh.

Within the physical measurements, do the products overhang the pallets on any of the sides? If so, this needs to be considered. Also, are the loads stretch wrapped? What fire classification do the products fall into?

For example, storing tires carries different fire suppression requirements than steel products. The customer should know what classification their products fall into and should be able to inform you.

Lastly within the products, we like to understand how many pallets are being stored, as well as how many SKU’s – or stock keeping units. This ratio will point us into several directions rack wise. For example, does this application require 100% selectivity (1,000 pallets / 1,000 SKUs), or does it require very dense storage (1,000 pallets / 1 SKU)...or something in between...or a mix?

The final step is to evaluate the Forklift the customer plans to use to load & unload the racks. This includes the physical measurements, the rated capacity, and useable height. From this information we can determine the aisle widths, and what limits it presents for the rack system.

For example, if the lift truck has a max height of 15’, but can only lift 2,500# to 14’, we’re going to design the system to work with the forklift’s capabilities...and make that top beam less than 14’ high. If the customer would like to take advantage of the “cube”, maybe they need a different lift for the new space and Rack.

______________________________________________________________________________

In sum, once we have the information from the space, the product, and the forklift, we can begin the rack layout and design process with confidence. Please feel free to reach out to me to schedule a site visit, or even discuss other services we offer. Email or text is the best way to reach us – unfortunately phone calls have become too corrupted by spam calls this day and age. Reach me personally at 803-817-2024, text “This is “x” at “y”, call me back,” or some version of that to let me know you’re for real.  

Thank you for reading our blog, we would appreciate the opportunity to visit your site. In the meantime if you’re looking for any warehouse safety products, look here. We do offer more products but handle that offline. Take care, and have a great day!